Bergama carpet, 20th century.

Famous painters from the 15th and 16th century often used images from carpet patterns from Northwest-Anatolia (under which Bergama) on their paintings: e.g. Hans Memling (1433-1494), Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449-1494) and Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543). The oldest preserved Bergama carpet is known to date from the 15th century (now in the Türk ve Islam Müzesi in Istanbul).
Although the antique Bergama rugs have a wool warp and weft, later Bergama carpets (like this one) have a cotton warp and weft, and (of course) wool knots of the Gordian/Turkish type. Usually the main colour is red or blue, with complementary colours ivory, yellow, ochre, sometimes orange or green. The Bergama carpets generally have medium sizes and often (somewhat) square shapes.
One type of Bergama carpets with strong geometric patterns remind of Caucasian rugs. The second group is the ‘Turkish type’, mainly with floral patterns, flower heads and leaves in the rug’s field. The carpet on the picture is representative of the second type, and has a large, crochet (hook), staircase shaped medallion decorated with stylised roses and flowers (here executed in white).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Oriental Rugs, volume 4: Turkish’ (Zipper & Fritzsche)
& Websites of ‘vanderhulsttapijten.nl’ & ‘nazmiyalantiquerugs.com’ .

A viewer wrote: "This rug is absolutely gorgeous. I especially love the unique design and colors that it has in it. I would love to have a rug like this in my house. It would look perfect right in the entry way of my home. I think that it would really help add a different style to my home."

Apart from the fact that I am not at all interested in how this persons dresses up his home, and from the fact that in my opinion the design is not unique at all, he writes his comments to put in the address of, I suppose, his carpet shop. This is the second time I receive a message of this kind, carpet business must be slow. It is no use, it is annoying, and I am tempted to add the name of his shop with a warning to avoid it at all costs.